1 May 2012

ALTERED ANCESTORS - VINTAGE DRAGONFLY SWAP

This Vintage Dragonfly swap requires altering 5 cartes de visite, small portraits from the late 1800's which are approximately 4 x 2.5. We will receive back 5 bound in a small book. While I know some are going to be quite brave, I really couldn't REALLY change them! So I have prettied them up a bit and created a small narrative for each one. Ok here is the very bad part - my photo taking skills! No time to keep trying I must get these in the post today!

I used a G45 small print in a soft brownish maroon as the background, punched out frames which I outlined with gold Liquid Pearls, some pictures got a bit of colour with an alcohol marker, each got a mulberry paper rose and other bits from my stash. I incorporated names and dates where they were noted on the back of the CDVs. Several really were from the same family.

"1862 - Mrs. French with infant #1. She never looked so rested again."

"1862 - Baby Bessie French walking at barely 9 months old! Mrs. French has just produced a set of twin brothers! Busy household day and night."

"1878 - Dressed up and dangerous! Those French boys and their pranks. They just had no boundaries."

"Even as a baby, Hortense had a way of looking at you. A look that made you feel uncomfortable. hortense lived a long and solitary life."

"1865 - Pansy just won her first certificate for writing. Mother was so pleased. Pansy got new blue hair ribbons."